Prof Lowe said the results supported his theory the 21st century would most likely be a battle between the Greens and the old political parties.

He said the election showed many Coast voters were “pretty disenchanted” with Labor and the Coalition.

“The two sitting members (Mr Somlyay and Mr Slipper) haven’t done a lot, and the Labor candidates didn’t attract the voters very much either,” he said.

Ms McCarthy believed only a small percentage of the Greens’ Coast support was a protest vote against the major parties, with most voters viewing the Greens as a viable alternative.

“It (the results) consolidates a feeling that’s actually been there all along and formalises that into a political force that the Sunshine Coast has been wanting and Australia has been wanting,” she said.